AmCan, Napa men arrested on suspicion of bank robbery

NOVATO -- A serial bank robbery suspect and an alleged accomplice from American Canyon and Napa were arrested Thursday after a blown heist in Novato, police said.

Joshua James Metoxen, 23, of American Canyon and Jack Dennis, 20, of Napa were arrested minutes after an alleged robbery attempt at 1:45 p.m. at the US Bank inside the Safeway on Nave Drive.

The apparent robbery attempt was abandoned when a bank employee recognized Metoxen as the suspect in a prior robbery, moved to a secure place and called police, said Novato police Detective Sgt. Michael Howard. Metoxen ran off.

Metoxen and Dennis were quickly arrested after police stopped their car on the northbound Highway 101 offramp to Rowland Boulevard.

Metoxen is suspected of robbing the same bank on Feb. 19 and possibly the Westamerica in Strawberry on March 13, among numerous other robberies in Sonoma, Lake and San Mateo counties. He was wanted on a $750,000 warrant from Lake County.

Novato police are working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies in Northern California to determine the scope of the alleged crime spree.